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No Nonsense: P.O.D. was live on the radio with controversial talk–show host Howard Stern when they completely shocked the notorious shock jock. Stern couldn't believe his ears. The guys in the band had just said, no, they don't sleep around with groupies.

"You've got to be kidding me," Stern said. He couldn't believe these rock stars were faithful to their wives and not indulging in all the sex and drugs of rock and roll. But that's just the P.O.D. way—hard music and clean living. The band, one of the hottest in the mainstream a few years ago and now making a comeback with their latest album, Testify, has always been serious about living for Christ and doing the right thing.

"We want to represent the things we believe," says singer Sonny Sandoval. "We're trying to walk our own walks and not get caught up in all the nonsense."

Watching Their Steps: When they first started out, P.O.D. was offered a deal with a Christian record company. The band needed the money, but said no thanks, because they wanted to take their music, hope and faith to the mainstream. A few years later, they signed with Atlantic Records, and became regulars on MTV and secular radio. They also became a popular act at big–time tours, including Ozzfest, and appeared on the same stage as Korn, Staind, Taproot and other hot hard–rock bands.

That's why Stern was stunned. Everybody he knows in the hard rock scene is, well, misbehaving. And P.O.D. faces the same temptations as those other bands. By going to Ozzfest and performing with secular bands, they are walking into some very dark places.

"Let's face it," says Sonny. "It is a different world. We always go to these places in fear—a good fear. But God has us in our place. I know God is watching out for me, and he's saying, 'OK, son, watch your step now. You can be in these places, but just be careful. Keep your guard up.' We have people on the road with us—our wives, our families and pastors. We come alongside each other and we're always in prayer. To know that so many people have our backs and support us is an awesome thing. You need people saying, 'Hey man, I'm with you all the way.'"

Screaming from Rooftops: P.O.D.'s latest album is, at times, in your face with the band's faith—as was last fall's The Warriors, Vol. 2 EP.

"We go into each album on our knees, and pray that God would do something awesome with it," Sonny says. "It's just the P.O.D. way to always intertwine our music with the hope we have in Christ. We encourage people to scream their faith from the rooftops. Whatever you're going through in your own life, God is the same, regardless. That's what we're testifying about. God is good always."

Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.
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